The anniversary event at West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village will see the original group of Cambridge students, whose members include a professor of archaeology, an eminent psychiatrist and pop star guitarist Kimberley Rew, discuss their role in bringing history to life.

The reunion is part of Reconstructing History: 40 years at West Stow - a project to increase awareness of the Icklingham Road site and encourage people who may have taken pictures in the early 70s to come forward.

Alan Baxter, heritage manager at West Stow, said: “We want to get all these people back together after 40 years and make the public aware and get EADT readers to actually say ‘Yes we have got photos of this’, because photos of the building is incredible rare. Lots of people came to look but most of those photos have disappeared.”

The first reconstruction was finished in 1973 after the students were persuaded by site excavator Stanley West to build on the footprint of the ancient village. The West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village Trust was established that August. Cllr Sarah Broughton, Chair of West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village Trust, said: “I am very pleased that the people who put up the very first buildings in 1973 are coming together to celebrate the Trust’s fortieth anniversary. I hope they are proud of the contribution they made to this nationally important heritage site.”

If anyone has photos of the 1973-1974 period email alan.baxter@westsuffolk.gov.uk or phone 01284 729718.